Hats off to Jeff Curl on winning the Connecticut Open Wednesday at Torrington Country Club. But maybe the most inspiring effort of the week came from Ken Green, the Danbury native former Washington (Conn.) resident and PGA star.

Green’s trial and tribulations from acrimonious divorce to depression to an RV accident that killed his brother, girlfriend and dog to the loss of his lower right leg in the accident and suicide of his son have been well documented.

His attempt to physically recover from the accident is admirable in itself especially when you see the struggles he has on hilly terrain with his imping gait. Yet, he still hits a fine golf ball and finished a very credible 2-over and tied for 23rd place in the event.

But it is his mental attitude to push on that leaves you rooting for him. Acknowledging that he hasn’t always handled adversity well, he told me he wants to do it right this time and that his goal is to play in every city on the Champions Tour and bring a smile to the folks there and let them know it is okay to cry.

You left Torrington Wednesday, applauding Curl for his golf and rooting big-time for Green as he pushes on past tragedies that would fell lesser men.You root for Ken Green.

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Let’s also take a second to offer congratulations to Torrington CC, head pro Glenn Carlson, Dick Weigold who was instrumental in helping bring the tournament to Torrington and in helping ready the Club for the event and all the folks who made it a great venue.

By all accounts Torrington CC did a fantastic job and you can see it becoming a destination for future events.

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Former Thomaston High three-sport coach and long-time gym teacher, Marty Hipsky, passed away of cancer Tuesday at the too young age of 68.Hipsky also coached at Litchfield when his son, Brian, was playing. A truly nice man, condolences to his family in Maine.

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Good luck to former Holy Cross softball coach Mike Harris who takes on duties as a Vice-Principal at Crosby High School. Harris was one of the good guys on the softball sidelines and will be one of the good guys at Crosby.

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I once asked Bill Parcells at Giants training camp how he could keep his team’s intensity up after winning the Super Bowl since so few teams had ever repeated. He told me that intensity was a basketball term. Maybe so, but not the way he coached. There was never a letdown in his game which among many reasons is why he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday. A well-deserved honor.

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Nice to see former Shepaug hurler Evan Scribner recalled by the Oakland A’s Saturday night. Scribner had been wallowing away in the minor leagues, pitching well, but seemingly destined to spend the rest of the season without a major league call. He started the season on Oakland’s opening day roster but has been sent down twice. Here’s hoping he stays put this time. Oakland is playoff bound right now with a 64-46 mark going into Sunday’s games.

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If you are zipping around the channels on land on MSG, watch the story of Bergen Catholic’s 2002 football season and their battle to win a state title. The show is called `The Crusade’ and will keep your attention for the two hours. Bergen Catholic is one of the northern N.J. pigskin powers that often has to deal with Don Bosco Prep to get where it wants to be. While more than 10 years old now it is still a good watch.

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Branford won its fourth American Legion title in eight years Saturday with a two-game sweep of Southington in the championship series. That’s what they call a program, folks.They are always in the mix somewhere (32-1 this season) and on top a good part of the time.

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A couple of wedding anniversaries Monday (Aug. 5) to both Mr. Gaffney and his wife Deb and yours truly and my wife Caroline. As Mr. Gaffney and I found out long after we met, we were married on the same day and in the same year (1995). No we did not plan it that way. But, we both agree that we made darn fine decisions. Happy anniversary Deb and Caroline.